Astros Look to Dodge Losses in Weekend Series vs. LA

Against all odds, the Houston Astros continue to lead the AL West. The Astros' bevy of young talent is not backing down from any challenge. If any team is looking to rebuild at any level, they need to take classes with the Astros' front office.

Texas Ranger conspiracy theorists like to point out the tide shifted in Texas when Nolan Ryan was booted out of The Metroplex and went back to H-Town. But this Houston youth movement has been a long time coming.

If there was an antithesis to Houston's rebuild thesis, it's the Los Angeles Dodgers. A roster full of aging free-agents who just bolstered their lineup not with a No. 1 prospect, but with Chase Utley, a 36-year-old who has batted .217 in 2015.

Brett Anderson (7-7, 3.48 ERA) takes the mound for the Dodgers tonight against Mike Fiers (0-0, 3.71 ERA), who came to Houston at the trade deadline.

Saturday, Zach Greinke (13-2, 1.58 ERA), who is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young award, goes against Scott Kazmir (1-3, 2.59 ERA). After a blazing-hot start after the trade from Oakland, Kazmir has come back down to earth a bit. Good thing for Houston, as Kazmir coming back down to earth is still pretty dang good.

To close the series on Sunday reigning Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 2.34 ERA) takes on Lance McCullers (5-4, 3.17 ERA), a young gun who has had a promising rookie campaign.